Jul. 22, 2013

Kristin Prince

Written by

David Lowery

Angelina Medina

Charles Medina

A Webster County judge denied a bond reduction request Monday for one of four people accused of raping and assaulting a woman earlier this year.

Defense attorney John Adamik requested a bond reduction for Kristin Prince, 19, of Lebanon, citing her clean criminal record and low flight risk.

Prince, who is charged with two counts each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, and one count of felonious restraint, is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.

The judge sided with prosecuting attorney Michael Huddleston, who called the charges particularly brutal.

“There are cases in which the allegations are so egregious, as with this case, that a high bond is appropriate,” he said.

The four defendants are accused of conspiring to attack a woman, between the ages of 18-25, on May 22 at a home on Goat Road in Niangua, which is listed as the address of two of the defendants, a brother and sister. Prosecutors say the four had various roles in the assault, including assault with metal and wooden sticks, physical restraint, sexual assault and branding with a wire hanger.

Adamik argued that Prince is not a flight risk because she has lived in Laclede County her entire life, and that she remained in the area from May, when the assault allegedly took place, until July when she and the others were arrested.

The attorney for Angelina Medina, 18, of Niangua, had planned to argue for a reduced bond, but opted to wait until a later hearing after Prince’s request was denied.

Prince and Medina face identical charges. Both had preliminary hearings set for Aug. 5.

Hearings for two others charged, David Lowery, 20, of Conway, and Angelina Medina’s brother Charles Medina, 19, of Niangua, were reset to August.

Lowery and Charles Medina are both charged with two counts of first-degree assault, and one count each of forcible rape, armed criminal action and felonious restraint.

Lowery is slated for a preliminary hearing Aug. 5, while Charles Medina is to reappear Aug. 26.

Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole said the victim told her church group about the assault a few days after it happened. The defendants were interviewed multiple times before charges were filed in early July.

Cole said the teens say the alleged assault was based on a dispute over $5.

All four remain in custody at the Webster County Jail, with bonds set at $250,000.